Latch



SePt- 1, 1936 c. E. HooPER ET AL 2,053,084

LATCH Filed May le, 1931 2 sheets-sheet 1 f1/wanton (Jamie ff/04140 Sept l, 1935- c. E. HOOPER ET Al. 2,053,084

LATCH I Filed May 16., 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 71%5 y 7%.1/1

Patented Sept. 1, 1936 PATENT OFFICE LATCH Claude E. Hooper and Ralph L. Chappell, New York, N. Y.

applicati@ May 16, 1931, serial No. 537,850

8 Claims.

This invention relates to door latches and more particularly to foot oper-ated latches or latches operated from `a point Vremote from the door and in which the unlatching of the door is accompanied by an opening of the door and more especially to latches for refrigerator or ice boX doors.

Hand operated latches are, as a rule, troublesome and very ineiicient` especially in refrigerator *doorsv or in doorsv that must be opened by a person Who is carrying objects.k In refrigerator doors hand operated latches are especially wasteful, time and energy are expended in placing objects'on nearby tables and the tops of refrigerators so that the door may be opened by hand, and the efficiency of the refrigerator is greatly lessened due to the extratime the door is left open While objects to be placed in a refrigerator are retrieved from nearby'tables andV placed within the refrigerator. In addition to this hand latches are unsightly and offer Aop-y portunities for pinching of lingers in the parts of the latch.

The objects of this invention are:

l. To provide a simple, cheap Vlatch'which will in one operation unlatch theA door and open the same.

2. To provide such a latch that may be operated by the foot or by Yother meansat a point remote from the door. i

3. ToV provide such a latch that is easily "inf stalled and in no Way interferes with the seal of the door or with the insulation of the refrigerator.

4. To provide such a latch that may be `easily concealed without interfering with the operation of the door or the refrigerator.

5. To provide such a latch that is simple of construction and manufacture, cheap incost and entirely practicable.

Other objects and advantages of this inven-- tion will appear in the following specification. The invention is shown in the drawings iny which Figure 1 is a partial elevation of a refrigera tor 'with one modification of the invention Vinstalled;

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on line 2 2 of Figure 1; y

Figure 3 is a sectional plan view 'on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figures 4 and 5 are views of the latch in various positions during its operation;

Figure 6 is an elevation of a refrigerator partly in section showing a different modcation of the'invention; Y

ure 6;

Figure 7 is a view of the catch shown in Fig- Figure 8 is an elevation of the refrigerator with a different modification of the invention installed;

' Figure 9 is a sectional view on line 9--9 of Figure 8;

FigureV l0 is a sectional plan view'on line IIJ-I 0 of Figure 8; v

Figure 11 is a plan View of the latch bar or bolt of the modification of the invention shown in Figure 8;

Figure 12 is an elevation of the bolt in Figure l1 showing the bolt in closed position;

Figure 13 is a view of the same bolt in the open position;

Figures 14 and 15 are views of a different form ofbolt for use in the modification of the invention shown in Figure 8; and

Figure 16 is a view of a catch member adapt- 20 ed for use with the bolt shown in Figures 14 and 15.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts. o

i is a refrigerator having a door 2 and a door frame or door casing 3.

In the forms of the invention illustrated in Figures A1 to 7 the door 2 has rigidly mounted thereon a bolt 4. This bolt is positioned on the edge of the door and protrudes therefrom as shown. The bolt 4 as shown is round in cross section and a roller may be used on the bolt to reduce friction. The bolt may be of any cross section without departing from the invention.

On thedoor frame 3 directly opposite bolt 4 is catch member 5. This catch member 5 is a flat piece of metal or other suitable material. Although a flat piece of metal is shown, any other form of catch member can be used if it has the necessary parts as will be described later. The catch member 5 is slideably mounted 0n the door casing 3 by means of slots 6 and screws l extending through these slots and into the door casing 3. Any other means of slideably mounting the catch member may be utilized without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The door casing 3 is cut away as at I0 to form a channel in which the catch member 5 slides and into Which the bolt 4 protrudes when the dooris closed. This channel is of such depth and so arranged that when the door is closed the bolt 4 protrudes into the channel and the catch member is below the surface of the `door casing so that a perfect seal is obtained between the 'door and the door casing andthe latch and bolt are concealed from the inside and the outside of the refrigerator.

The catch member 5 is cut away to form a catch 8 adapted to receive the bolt 4 and a cam surface 8 adapted to cooperate with bolt 4 to open the door. The catch member 5 also has a cam surface II adapted to cooperate with the bolt 4 and move the catch member downward as the door is closed.

The catch member 5 is so positioned that when it is at its upper sliding position the catch 8 engages bolt 4 to keep the door in a closed position and so that when the catch member 5 is moved downward the cam surface 9 engages the bolt 4 and forces the door outward to open position. When the catch member 5 is at its upper position cam surface II is positioned to engage bolt 4 when the door is being closed.

The catch member 5 is operatively connected to a foot pedal I2 which protrudes from the corner of a leg I3 of the refrigerator through a slot I4 in said leg. In Figures 1 and 2 the pedal I2 is connected to the catch member 5 by a metal strip I5 which is a continuation of the catch member 5. In Figures 1 and 2 this metal strip I5 is positioned in the channel I0 which in this form of the invention extends from the catch member 5 to the bottom of the door casing 3. The strip I5 then extends through the wall of the refrigerator at the bottom of the door casing 3 in a slot I6. This slot I6 terminates at its top portion in the seal of the door and at its bottom in the refrigerator. This slot I6 may be in the nature of a stuing box. In this form of the invention a stop I'I is rigidly fixed to the strip I5. This stop may be of any suitable material such as metal and may have its upper face covered With felt or any sealing material. This stop I1 is so positioned that it contacts with the bottom portion of the box when the catch member 5 is at its upper position.

Directly below the stop I1 is a spring return mechanism. This is shown in the drawings as a coil spring is deposed around the strip I5 but may be any suitable return mechanism. The top of spring I8 bears on stop and the bottom of spring I8 bears on an ear I9 extending inwardly on the leg I3 of the refrigerator. This spring is arranged so that it forces the catch member 5 to its upper position.

In the modification shown in Figures 6 and 7 the means connecting the catch member 5 to the pedal I 2 comprise a rod 29 of any suitable material. The rod 20 extends through opening 2| in the insulation of the refrigerator down through the bottom of the box. There may be a stuiiing box in opening 2|. A stiff Wire may be used in lieu of a rod. This would require a smaller opening 2| and a felt stopper would suice for a stufling box.

In this modification of the invention the bottom portion of catch member 5 is bent up to form an ear 22 having therein a hole 23 adapted to slideably receive the rod 28. At the upper end of rod 20 is a knob 24 or other suitable stopping means to cooperate with the ear 22 to pull catch member 5 to its bottom position when the rod 20 is moved downward. The catch member 5 is mounted in a channel as at I0 similar to the channel shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and there is, in addition, in the door casing, a recess 25 into which the ear 22 of catch member 5 protrudes and into which hole 2| opens so that rod 20 protrudes into said recess and through hole 23. A

spring return mechanism consisting of a coil the connecting means I5 or 20.

spring 26 is provided. This spring 26 is disposed around the rod 20 and is adapted to urge the catch 5 to its upper position. The upper end of the spring bears on ear 22 and the bottom on the bottom surface of recess 25.

In operation, when the door 2 is in closed position, catch 8 engages bolt 4 as shown in Figure 4 and is held in this position by spring I8 or spring 26, depending upon which modification of the invention is used. A downward force applied t0 pedal I2 actuates catch member 5 by means of As the catch member 5 moves down catch 8 releases the bolt 4 and cam surface 9 engages bolt 4 forcing the door outward to the open position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4. The distance the door swings open depends upon the force applied to the pedal I2. When the pedal I2 is released, spring I8 or spring 26 returns the catch member 5 to its upper position. When the door is swung closed bolt 4A engages cam surface I I. This forces catch member 5 down as shown in Figure 5 and the bolt 4 slides over cam surface II into catch 8 which is held in engagement with bolt 4 by means of spring I8 or 26 to effectively latch the door. In Figures l and 2 the catch member 5 and the connecting means I5 slide as a unit on closing the door when bolt 4 coacts with cam surface II. In the modification of the invention shown in Figures 6 and 7 theclosing of the door and the coaction of bolt 4 and cam surface cause catch member 5 to slide downward. The rod 20 remains practically stationary and the Ycatch member 5 slides along the rod. The sliding action is almost instantaneous and before the rod 20 has time to slide downward the return spring has urged the catch member 5 to its upper position where catch 8 engages bolt 4 to hol-d the door in the closed position.

The modification of the invention shown in Figures 8 to 16 utilizes a pivoted bolt |04 pivoted at 28 and mounted on the inner side of the door casing 3. Bolt |04 has a roller 36 on the end 34 to cooperate with a'catch member. On the inner side of the door 2 is a catch member |05 which has a catch portion |08 and a cam surface |09 both adapted to cooperate with the bolt |04, the catch |08 being adapted to retain the door in a closed position and the cam surface |09 being adapted to force the door outward and to open position when the bolt 04 is pivoted up about the point 28.

In Figures 8 to 13 the bolt |04 is an adaptation of the usual refrigerator hardware. In hand operated latches a somewhat similar bolt is usually mounted on the door of the refriger- -ator with the catch member V|05 mounted on the door casing on the outside of the refrigerator. Figures l1 toV 13 show a bolt witha spring return means 29 consisting of a vertical stop 30, a slidably mounted cam surface 3| and a spring 32 tending to force the cam surface 3| toward the stop 30 and to keep the bolt |04 in a horizontal position. Cooper-ating with the bolt is an ear 33 so arranged that when the bolt. |04 is pivoted about the point 28 it contacts with the ear 33 and slides beyond it. The ear 33 then holds the bolt in the upper position as shown in Figure 13. A slight jar will dislodge the bolt |04 from the ear 33 and it will be returned by the spring 32 tothe horizontal position. VOne end of the bolt |04, designated as 34, is adapted to cooperate with catch member |05 and the other end has a slot 35 through which the rod |20 extends. This rod has a knob or stopping means |24uthereon so that aldownwardimot-ion of the rodepi'vots-.fthe bolt .il0.4.,aboutwthe.v point. 28.7" This rod=|20 visconnecterl to aifo'ot .pedal |-2 asshown in IFigure 8.1"v This vrodgfl 2.0.4 passes throughs-the wall of. Athe' refrigerator infan' opening. 12|.

The .rod |'20xhas 'a'..springwreturn mechanism thereoncomprising afspring ||8 coiledaboutuihe rod as fshown inFigures .8 and9.' This-spring is so-:a-rranged .that it .contacts :with-the ear |9.von the inner portion of leg, 133 and. urges the rod |205 tozits vvupper position.

.1 In operation .a downward movement of pedal |2,:moves.rodf |20 down'.A This movesvloolt I|00' to the positiomshown in Figure 13. The end 34 Whichahas'been in `cooperationwith 1catch |08 to4 hold .the doorclosed ismovedup and unlatches thed'oor.. As the upward-motion continues the rol1er:;36 `on theend; 34.zcont agtswith.;cam surfaceA 5109 forcing.the'.doorcpen;.` The-.ear 33 then holds the bolt1=|04 inritsuppositiornand thezsprihg return ll8fforces the 'rod :12:0: tiogits` upposition; asy soonY as the pedal I2 iscreleased. On I closing .-the door theL cam surface 1| 09.- strikes the bolt |04 and releases it from ear 33;..1 The bolt thenreturns tothe vertical position and cooperates. with'catchi to. close the door and the latch is set for operation.

Figures 14, 15 and 16 show another type of pivoted bolt. The bolt has slot 35 at one end cooperating with rod |20 and knob |24 as above explained. The springs 31 an-d 30 are arranged to keep the bolt |04 in its down position as shown in Figure 15. A downward movement of rod |20 caused by pressure on pedal |2 moves. the bolt |04 to the position shown in Figure 14 which causes the opening of the door through the cooperation of the roller 36 and cam surface |09. As soon as the pedal I2 is released the springs 31 and 38 force the bolt to the position shown in Figure 15 where the stop 39 holds the bolt against further downward movement. The catch member |05 in this modification is provided with a cam return surface When the door is closed the cam surface cooperates with the roller 36 to force the bolt |04 up and into catch |08.

In operation a downward force applied to pedal I2 rotates the bolt |04 about the point 28 by means of the coacting means |20. The bolt |04 as it is raised releases the latch by removing the bolt from the catch |08 and on upward movement the bolt |04 cooperates with the cam surface |09 to force the door out and open. In the modification shown in Figures 8 to 13 the bolt 4 remains in the up position contacting with ear 33. When the door is closed cam |09 strikes the bolt and a latching is effected through cooperation between bolt |04 and catch |08. 1n the modification of the invention shown in Figures 14 to 16 when the foot pedal is released the springs 31 and 38 force the bolt to the position shown in Figure l5. As the door is closed cam surface engages bolt 4 and raises the bolt. As the door is closed bolt |04 passes over this cam surface and engages catch |08 to hold the door in closed position.

While several forms of the device have been illustrated, it is o-bvious to those skilled in the art that there are many other modifications that might be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What we claim is:

1. A door latch comprising a bolt rigidly fixed in the edge of a door, a catch member slidably mounted for vertical movement in a channel in therdoon-casing and oppositezsaid;:bolt,;saidzcatch mem-ber` having a:cutnaway-portioimforming a catchvadapted to .cooperatewithfsaid bolt tozhold the:.;door-. in :ai closed .position when..f the:. catch member. vismlrged; to.` its upper; .position and a cam :surface Vadapted tcycooperatewith said. bolt tof-open ..said.-;door.1when said catch member is moved touits .b'ottomr.position` and `a loam ,surface adapted tc..co.operate -withlsaidib'olt tofmove Asaid catch. member.-` torits .flower .positione-whem the door is being closedparr.,earromsaidicatchsmember: gexte'ndingfinto a .recess at the .'lower` '.portion of the channel irt .the door fca-sing1said. ear. havingA are aperture4 adapted to rslidably. receive .a.rod,

al lvertical :rod projecting throughzsaid: aperture'y and having af head-adapted tok cooperate 'with said` ear to move :saidl catch imember; downward, a coil :spring disposed around .-saidrodandi adapted toscooperate withasaidear tofforc'e said. :catch member tofrits-supperx position and a foot: pedal adapted to.l impart toysaidl rod a. vertical Vmovement.l

2'. A; door latchrcomprising ag-holt-ri'gidlyxed in,v theyedge of aldoor, a .fcatchimembenslideably mounted; for :vertical: movement onthe :cas-' ing and opposite said holttisaidaicatch:f-member having a cut away portion forming a catch adapted to cooperate with said bolt to hold the door in a closed position when the catch member is urged to its upper'position and a cam surface adapted to cooperate with said bolt to open said door when said catch member is moved to its bottom position, an ear on said catch member having an aperture adapted to slidably receive Va rod, a vertical rod projecting through said aperture andhaving a head adapted to cooperate with said ear to move said catch member downward, a coil spring disposed around said rod and adapted to cooperate with said ear to force said catch member to its upper position and a foot pedal adapted to impart to said rod a vertical movement.

3. A door latch comprising a bolt rigidly fixed in the edge of a door, a catch member slidably mounted for vertical movement on the door casing and opposite said bolt, said catch member having a cut away portion forming a catch adapted to cooperate with said bolt to hold the door in a closed position when the catch member is urged to its upper position and a cam surface adapted to cooperate with said bolt to open said door when said catch member is moved to its bottom position, an ear on said catch member having an aperture adapted to slidably receive a rod, a vertical rod projecting through said aperture and having a head adapted to cooperate with said ear to move said catch member downward, a spring adapted to force said catch member to its upper position and a foot pedal adapted to impart to said rod a vertical movement.

4. A door latch comprising a bolt, a catch member having a catch and a cam surface adapted to cooperate with said bolt to open said door, means for causing relative movement between said bolt and said catch member to unlatch the bolt and open the door, a spring adapted to hold said catch in cooperation with said bolt, a second cam surface on said catch member adapted to cooperate with said bolt to cause relative movement between said bolt and said catch member on closing the door and a foot pedal adapted to aotuate said means and directly connected to said first mentioned means for causing relative movement between said bolt and said catch member for unlatching the latch Vand opening the door, whereby movement of said pedal causes a corresponding movement of said catch member.

5. In an ice box lock and `door opener, the combination of a bolt on the edge of the door, a. keeper comprising an angle member having a cut-away portion to engage the bolt to hold the door closed, and a cam portion adapted on movement of said keeper to engage said bolt after it is disengaged fromsaid cut-away portion to urge the door outwardly, and a foot pedal adapted to cause movement of said keeper.

6. A door latch comprising a bolt in the 'edge of a door,:a member slidably mounted for vertical movement in a channel in the door casing and opposite said bolt, said member having a cut away portion forming a keeper adapted to co operate with said bolt to hold the door in a closed position when said member is urged to its upper position, and a cam surface adapted to cooperate with said bolt to open said door on movement of said member to its bottom position, and a foot pedal connected to said member to impart a movement thereto correspondingto the movement of said foot pedal whereby the force applied by said cam surface varies' according to the force applied to said foot pedal. Y

:7. A door latch comprising a boit, a member having a keeper and a cam surface adapted to cooperate with said bolt on Va single movement which releases said keeper andthen causes said cam to engage said bolt to open said door, and a foot pedal connected to said member to impart a movement thereto corresponding to the movement of said foot pedal whereby the force applied by said cam surface varies according to the force applied to said foot pedal.

8. A door latch and opening mechanism comprising a, bolt rigidly mounted in theedge of a door, a catch member having a portion to engage the bolt to hold the door in closed position, and a cam surface adapted after the bolt'is released from said bolt engaging portion of the catch to cooperate with said bolt to open the door, and a foot pedal, means connecting said foot pedal directly to said catch, whereby the operation of said catch and the coaction of said cam surface with said bolt is controlled by said foot pedal so that force applied to the foot pedal is direclyproportional to force applied by said cam surface to said bolt.

Y CLAUDE E. HOOPER.

RALPH L. CHAPPELL. 

